Poverty in the early church and today: a conversation

23. The "Undeserving Poor" Today: The Rhetoric and Theological Development of a Problematic Category - Hannah Swithinbank, Tearfund, UK 24. Response to Fiona Gregson - Hannah Swithinbank, Tearfund, UK 25. Response to Hannah Swithinbank - Fiona Gregson, Diocese of Birmingham, UK -- 26. The Early Church, The Roman State, and Ancient Civil Society: Whose Responsibility are the Poor?- Christopher M. Hays, Fundaciđn Universitaria Seminario BƯblico de Colombia, Colombia 27. Poverty and the Powers Today - Stephen Timms MP, House of Commons, UK 28. Response to Christopher Hays- Stephen Timms MP, House of Commons, UK 29. Response to Stephen Timms, MP - Christopher M. Hays, Fundaciđn Universitaria Seminario BƯblico de Colombia, Colombia 30. The Poor Will Always be among You: Poverty, Education and the Catholic Ideal - -- Francis Campbell, St. Mary's University, UK -- II. Responding and Reflecting 31. Review: Responding and Summarizing - Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary, USA -- 32. Between Today and Yesterday: Evidence, Complexity, Poverty and the "Body" of Christ - Francis Davis Select Bibliography Index.

This innovative volume focuses on the significance of early Christianity for modern means of addressing poverty. The volume offers rigorous study of poverty and its alleviation in both earliest Christianity and today's world. In this light, in seven major areas, an expert in early Christianity in its Jewish and Greco-Roman settings is paired with an expert in modern strategies for addressing poverty and benefaction. They each address the same topic from their respective areas of expertise, and respond to each other's essays.The chapters present the complex ways in which early Christian ideas and practices relate to modern ideas and practices and vice versa. The book addresses both continuities and discontinuities between the ancient world and today. As such the volume seeks to inform and engage church leaders, those working in NGOs concerned with poverty, and all interested in these crucial issues, both Christian and not